News Release

Grainger Celebrates the Grand Opening of its Northeast Distribution Center in New Jersey

The 1.3-Million-Square-Foot, State-of-the-Art Facility Helps Get More Products to Customers in the Northeast by the Next Day

BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, N.J., Nov. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW), the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, hosted a grand opening to celebrate its new distribution center in Bordentown Township, N.J. The 1.3 million-square-foot facility stocks more than 300,000 items and allows the company to deliver more products by the next day to customers in the Northeast.

"Our Northeast Distribution Center in New Jersey is a significant investment focused on helping to ensure an effortless experience for our customers by getting them the products they need to keep their operations running and their people safe, and making those products available faster than the competition," said Barry Greenhouse, Grainger Vice President, Global Supply Chain. "Grainger has been in New Jersey since 1933, and we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional value to businesses in the Northeast."

The distribution center runs on state-of-the-art distribution technology enabling real-time order processing. The building also features more than 13,000 high-efficiency SunPower solar panels on its roof capable of producing 4.3 megawatts of electrical power.

Commitment to the Community

With six locations that include five branches and the distribution center, Grainger employs approximately 685 team members in New Jersey. Approximately 550 of those team members work in the new distribution center with roles primarily in warehouse operations.

"Bordentown Township, 'The Crossroads of the Heart of New Jersey', is delighted to officially welcome the single largest independent commercial warehouse in the State," said Stephen Benowitz, Mayor of Bordentown Township. "I have been involved in this project with Grainger, a Fortune 500 company, since the beginning, so this event carries special importance to me. I would like to especially point out that Grainger has proven to be, as promised, a good neighbor and community partner to the residents that surround their property. On behalf of the Township Committee, we look forward to a long, successful relationship. This project is the end result of a mutually beneficial process between government, the private industry, and the community. I truly believe that this project will be the beginning of more growth and prosperity for the Township."

Grainger's support of the community also extends to Brookdale Community College, Mercer County Community College and its students. Each year, two students studying the skilled trades, public safety or supply chain management from each school have the opportunity to earn financial assistance as part of the Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program. Upon graduation, students receive a customized Westward toolkit, which includes specialized tools for the student's area of professional expertise.

This Northeast Distribution Center is one of 20 such centers Grainger has throughout North America, dedicated to the products customers need to maintain, repair and operate facilities. During the past eight years, Grainger has invested heavily in its distribution center network to ensure optimum capacity, increased automation and standardization in response to the need for on-demand delivery of products, information and services. This robust and evolving distribution center network allows Grainger to ship most orders complete with next-day delivery.

About GraingerW.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2016 sales of $10.1 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products (MRO), with operations also in Europe, Asia and Latin America.